Hunter checks his watch again, but still no messages from Ada. He replays the events of the previous day in his mind, wondering if he might have done something wrong. She never went this long without messaging him. He punches in another quick text to her and watches until he is sure it shows sent.

Brad walks Ester out to the car with her hands cuffed behind her back. The old woman grimaces as the cuffs dig into her fragile wrists. She nearly trips on a rut left in the grass by her granddaughter.

The medics slam the back doors to the ambulance and the alarms sound as they pull out with Gerald in the back. Hunter watches as the ambulance pulls away. Brad shoves the old woman into the back seat of the cruiser and closes the door. Hunter notices the fresh scratches on Brad’s face when his partner turns to face him. Hunter holds back a grin.

“She bit me too,” Brad grumbles noticing the look on Hunter’s face. “The old man has a concussion and a broken hip.”

“You know they were just caught in the middle. You didn’t have to arrest the old couple. They were just watching out for their granddaughter and her boyfriend.” Hunter says.

“Well, they should have stayed out of the way. I’m not going to book them on aiding, just assault. They will do a night, tops. Perhaps they can help us find Angel and we can let them go.”

Hunter looks back up at the blown-in front door and ripped-up yard. “I doubt they will want to help us today, Brad.”

“Then at least they won’t be able to help Angel any further. We already look foolish letting her get away twice. After deploying Bunker Busters no less. Have you ever heard of anyone getting out of a spot like that?”

“Not in one piece.” Hunter shakes his head. “I think the boyfriend was tweaked or something. Did you see how quickly he darted? He must have been jacked up on Wraith.”

“Come in 727.” Hunter’s radio crackles.

“Go ahead,” Hunter responds into the mic on his shoulder.

“Suspect has escaped the ambulance five blocks from your location en route to the hospital. The suspect is on foot. Drones have been deployed. Move in to intercept.”

Hunter and Brad exchange incredulous looks. “Copy,” Hunter answers almost unable to contain his laughter. He smiles at Brad, “That old man has a lot of fight in him.”

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Brad glances at Ester in the back seat in the back seat and reaches up to feel the angry scratches on his face. “If he’s anything like her better tase him, then cuff him.” He jokes back. “Think he is hobbling back here to protect his wife?”

Hunter walks around to get in the driver's seat. “You know we are supposed to be home by now. After we cuff the old man, you are going to have a ton of paperwork to do while I make it up to Ada.”

“You can’t stick me with this.”

“That was the deal remember.” Hunter drops down into his seat and closes his door.

Brad snatches open his own door and climbs in the passenger side. “But that was before we arrested the gummers. No offense old lady.”

Ester speaks from the back seat, her voice trembling, “These cuffs are too tight, I can’t feel my fingers. Could you please loosen them for me young man?”

“No can do,” Brad turns to look back at her. “You tried to peel off my face remember.”

“You broke my house.” She says in her frail voice sounding as if she might cry. “You hurt Gerald too.” She shifts in her seat and groans. “I will be good. Just let me have my hands in front.”

Hunter shifts the car into drive. They pull away from the curb. “First we have to pick up your husband then we will let you have your hands in front if you promise to be good.”

“I will be good.” The old woman promises. “I will be good.”

Hunter flips on the lights. A drone passes overhead on its way toward the city center. In a few blocks, they are back on Main leaving Middletown. Hunter and Brad lean toward the dash peering at the passing civilians on the sidewalks trying to pick out the old man limping through the crowd.

Something quick as a gazelle darts in front of the car and Hunter locks up the brakes to keep from hitting it. Him. They watch with jaws wide open as the boyfriend runs past in a blur with both arms hanging limp at his sides. He flashes past as quickly as if he were on a bicycle.

“Can’t be,” Brad says. “Didn’t you say he was dead?”

“No, he wasn’t dead yet. I figured he would die on the way to the hospital though.” Brad says exasperated. A loud buzz interrupts him as a drone zips overhead tailing the boy. Hunter follows after the drone in the car.

“It can’t be him,” Brad says. “Four rounds to the chest. I saw the blood. You don’t just hop back up from that, even on Wraith.”

“Maybe it’s something new then.” Hunter shrugs equally astounded.

“Where is Gerald?” The old woman cries from the back seat.

The cruiser loses power and coasts to a stop. Overhead the drones stop as well and the screens on the towers all flash blue. All traffic on the street halts and the streetlights flash. The city sirens begin to chirp, and everyone covers their ears for a moment until the alarms die down.

“Announcement, Announcement.”

Hunter and Brad climb out of the car and look up at the big screen on the city tower nearest them. Then the X.O. Galadriel appears on the screen.